Staff Reports
A recent Crooked Con straw poll of progressive activists has shaken up the early chatter about the 2028 Democratic nomination. The headline: U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D‑Ga.) topped the list, while Former Vice President Kamala Harris barely registered. Before anyone starts crowning a nominee based on a handful of activists, let’s size up what this means — and what it does not.
Crooked Con straw poll: Ossoff surges, Harris stalls
The Crooked Con straw poll of roughly 990 attendees put Sen. Jon Ossoff at about 38.4% support. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (D‑N.Y.) came in second with roughly 16.6%, and Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg around 13.9%. Former Vice President Kamala Harris finished near the bottom with about 0.6%. Those numbers make for good theater — especially if you like a plot twist where the presumed front‑runner turns up as an also‑ran.
What the Crooked Con numbers actually tell us
Let’s be blunt: this was a conference straw poll of progressive activists, not a national, scientific survey of Democratic primary voters. Activists at Crooked Con pick favorites that match their political energy and fashion sense. That explains why a freshly reelected swing‑state senator like Ossoff looks strong in this room. It does not mean he’s about to enter the race, and it does not reflect the views of the wider electorate or prediction markets.
Why Republicans should be smiling — and Democrats should worry
From a conservative point of view, this result is delicious. Republicans would love to face Kamala Harris again, and her tiny share at Crooked Con makes the Democrats’ bench look thin and confused. Even if Ossoff wanted the job — and he has publicly said he has “zero interest” in running for president — activist love can boost fundraising and media attention. That can matter. Still, enthusiasm in one conference hall rarely hands someone a nomination without broader name recognition and a clear campaign plan.
Bottom line: momentum or mirage?
Use the Crooked Con straw poll as a snapshot of progressive activists, nothing more. It shows who energized that crowd — Ossoff and AOC — and who did not — Harris and several others. If Ossoff changes course and runs, this activist momentum could translate into early money and endorsements. If he doesn’t, the results will quietly fade into the long list of quirky early tests that tell us more about activists than about who will be on the Democratic ticket in 2028.
